CW medallist, Miiro knocked out in trials

Wednesday May 22 2019

Big Deal. Long serving Cranes goalkeeping coach, Fred Kajoba, says the country could benefit from this innovation. Photo by Eddie Chicco

In Summary

The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) decided to hold early elimination trials at Lugogo to reduce the number of boxers in various weight categories

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By REGINA NALUJJA

KAMPALA. Juma Miiro Uganda’s sole boxing medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, was yesterday knocked out by Moses Kabuuka in the flyweight (52kg) category during elimination trials ahead of All Africa Games due August 19-31 in Morocco.Miiro who won bronze in Commonwealth missed the National Open Boxing Championships from which successful boxers were selected for national team training due to an injury, an excuse that landed him invitation for national team training.

The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) decided to hold early elimination trials at Lugogo to reduce the number of boxers in various weight categories.The best four boxers in the round-robin format trials will proceed to the official trials early next month.After ousting Miiro, Kabuuka who was last year stopped by Miiro in the national team trials during Commonwealth Games preparation, said he has been waiting for this opportunity.

“After the draw, I found out that my opponent was Juma, I promised to beat him by a KO which I did,” said Kabuuka.With more women’s boxing weight classes included into the 2020 Olympics, a number of changes had to be made on the men’s side by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). First, men’s light flyweight (49kg) bantamweight (56kg) and light welterweight (64kg), were all excluded hence reduced weight categories from 10 to eight.The men’s lightweight was also restructured from 60 kg to 63 kg and feather weight (57kg) was added.

Meanwhile two weight classes, featherweight (57 kg) and welterweight (69 kg) were added to the flyweight, lightweight and middleweight that were already existing to the women’s categories.Miiro had earlier told this paper that changes in weight categories were a havoc because it increased competition in the remaining weight categories.“We have to endure this change in weight categories though it is not easy, I have to fight hard to overcome all the opponents and book a place on the national team,” he said.